The BBC has released the long-awaited first trailer of Steve Coogan as paedophile TV presenter Jimmy Savile in an upcoming drama that will examine how he was able to systematically abuse hundreds of children under the noses of high society.
The Reckoning, which airs next month after reportedly being delayed over sensitivity concerns, stars a transformed Coogan as the Jim’ll Fix It star, who was exposed as a serial abuser shortly after his death in 2011.
It opens with Coogan, as Savile, speaking to TV executives as he tells them: ‘I’m not an act – what you see is what you get.’
A later scene in the short, 36-second trailer, features a voiceover declaring that Savile ‘groomed the whole nation’.
It ends with Savile being confronted by an unseen interviewer who says to him: ‘There are rumours that there’s another side to you.’
‘What rumours might those be?’ an older-looking Savile replies.
Coogan will portray Savile at several stages of his career, from his earlier years of presenting to the latter stages of his life (pictured: Coogan as an older Savile)
Steve Coogan filming The Reckoning, in character as Jimmy Savile in one of the paedophile’s trademark tracksuits
The BBC has vowed not to sensationalise or glorify Savile through the drama – promising that it will not shy away from the corporation’s own role in enabling the paedophile
Savile was a prolific TV presenter, featuring on the likes of Top of the Pops and Jim’ll Fix It (pictured: a ‘Jim fixed it for me’ medal, as seen in The Reckoning)
Coogan will portray Savile across several decades – from his early years in TV through Top of the Pops and Jim’ll Fix It to the latter stages of his career, when concerns were raised about his behaviour but swept aside.
As well as capturing biographical aspects of Savile’s life, The Reckoning will feature interviews with four survivors of Savile’s torrid abuse – who have agreed to share their experiences in the hope of preventing a similar scandal from happening again.
The BBC has previously trailed The Reckoning as a retelling of how Savile used his used his links with the broadcaster, as well as hospitals, prisons and charities, to legitimise himself.
BBC bosses say they will not shy away from the role the corporation played in enabling Savile’s abuse, promising the four-part series will ‘highlight the importance of confronting the horrors of the past and talking openly about abuse’.
READ MORE: BBC deny their controversial Jimmy Savile drama has been delayed after it was claimed ‘bosses were urging more focus to be placed on the victims’
It will also cover how he used the countless friendships he forged in showbusiness, politics, journalism, the Catholic Church and even the Royal Family to ‘cement his position’ – as he carried out abuse behind closed doors.
Filming wrapped on the series in January 2022 – and was reportedly delayed for changes to be made so that people wouldn’t mistake the drama as a biopic of Savile’s life, with little regard for survivors.
Savile is believed to have abused more than 500 children over several decades – with allegations made over several years.
In the trailer, one can be heard saying that Savile was ‘one of the biggest manipulators of people to rise to the status that he did’.
Coogan has previously defended agreeing to portray the reviled TV presenter, with some airing concerns that the drama risked glorifying the paedophile.
Coogan previously explained in a statement the decision to play Savile was not one ‘I took lightly’.
He told Sunday Brunch last year: ‘I think that’s because Jimmy Savile played a trick on the entire nation so there’s a real feeling of antagonism about it.
‘But you need to look at someone like that to understand how they’re able to operate and to prevent it happening again.
‘If you sweep it under the carpet and just don’t talk about it anymore, then those people are destined to come back.’
Coogan has previously said agreeing to play Savile was not a decision he ‘took lightly’
Changes: Changes: Coogan previously explained in a statement the decision to play Savile was not one ‘I took lightly’ (pictured left in character, Savile is seen right in the 60s)
The Reckoning, starring Steve Coogan as Jimmy Savile, starts at 9pm on October 9 on BBC One
Piers Wenger, controller of BBC Drama, said at the time of the show’s commissioning: ‘The story of Jimmy Savile is one of the most emotive and troubling of our times.
‘We do not intend to sensationalise these crimes but to give voice to his victims.
‘We will work with survivors to ensure their stories are told with sensitivity and respect and to examine the institutions which Jimmy Savile was associated with and the circumstances in which these crimes took place.
‘Drama has the ability to tackle sensitive real-life subjects and consider the impact of a crime on its survivors, and what lessons can be learnt to stop this ever happening again.’
Alongside Coogan, the cast includes established TV performers Gemma Jones, Mark Lewis Jones, Siobhan Finneran and Mark Stanley.
The Reckoning begins October 9 at 9pm on BBC One.